HOCKEY PREVIEW: Ferris Looking For More Production Up Front

BIG RAPIDS – Last year, Ferris State University’s hockey team experienced some challenging scoring droughts that hampered the team, at times, on the ice.

This year, however, long-time head coach Bob Daniels is hoping his veteran forwards can put up big-time scoring numbers this year and take some pressure off the blueliners and goaltenders. The team suffered key graduation losses with Brendan Connolly (28 points), Corey Couturier (16 points) and Justin Lewandowski (16 points) all moving on from their collegiate careers at Ferris.

“We had an awful lot of firepower returning last year and we do again this year, but we struggled offensively last year and I think the reason is the number of players that had subpar years,” Daniels said. “The answers to the offensive difficulties lie within our locker room right now. If those guys return to form I think our offensive difficulties can be behind us. I am very excited about our freshmen and I think that they will contribute.”

But, don’t think the cupboard is bare for Ferris. The Bulldogs return a number of talented forwards and one of the better defensemen (Zach Redmond) in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (who helped put goals on the scoreboard).

Forward-wise, Ferris returns Aaron Lewicki, a senior, who had 20 points on 10 goals with 10 assists during his junior campaign. Also back is junior Justin Menke, who had 19 points on five goals with 14 assists; Blair Riley, a senior forward who had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points; Casey Haines (pictured), who totaled six goals and had 10 helpers for 16 points; and team captain Cody Chupp, who finished with 12 points (seven goals with five assists).

Ferris will be looking for big years from the veterans who have the ability to break through and have the kinds of offensive seasons the Bulldogs need to stay in the upper division of the CCHA standings. As a team, Ferris ranked 28th in the nation in power-play percentage at .164, but would love to improve upon those numbers. Ferris ranked 46th in scoring offense at 2.37 per game and that, also, is a number the Bulldogs would love to step up.

When Ferris is out on the ice, skating hard and creating opportunities, its goal scorers have tended to thrive. Hopefully the Bulldogs can get that high-speed offense going.